Safety-pocket.



A. W'. PBRN-ANS.

SAFETY POCKET. APPLIQATION ILzD Nov. so, 1910.

.Patentd Apr. 1,8, 1911.

2 'SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. W. PERNANS. SAFETY PooK'BT. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. so, 1910.

Patented Apr. 18,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANTHONY WILLIAM FERNANS, 0F BIDDEFORD, MAINE.

SAFETY-POCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Application led November 30, 1910. Serial No. 594,948.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONYVW. FER- NANS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Biddeford, in the county of York and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Pockets, ofwhich the following is a specication, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in safety pockets for coats,trousers or other garments and has for its object to provide a verysimple, efficient and durable device of this character which willeectually prevent the accidental or criminal loss from the pocket ofarticles of value.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double pocket comprisingan inner and outer pocket or container, and means for closing the innerpocket, said means being easily and quickly operable by the wearer toobtain access to the pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pocket closing devicewhich when moved to open the pocket by one with criminal intent, willnotify the wearer and thus prevent the consummation of the theft.

Still another object of my invention resides *in the provision of apocket comprising metallic side frames to be covered by the material ofthe pocket, said frames being so constructed as Ato prevent articlesbeing withdrawn by cutting the material, and locking means for closingthe entrance to the pocket.

W'ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, showingthe pocket detached from the garment and the inner pocket closed; Fig. 2is a similar view partly in section on an enlarged scale, showing thelocking plate raised to permit of the opening of the mouth of the pocket;V Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of the locking plate; Fig. 5 is a detailperspective lview of the plate holding spring; Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of one of the inner pocket frames; and Fig. 7 is a sectionsimilar to Fig. 3 showing both pockets closed.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5a designates the cloth of the outerpocket, one end of which is sewed to the garment. This pocket is formedfrom two pieces of cloth, the piece 5 which forms the back of a pocketand is sewed to the garment, being of greater length than the frontpocket piece 5a. The front piece 5a is of sufficientlength to provide aflap 5b at its upper end, the purpose of which will more fullyhereinafter appear.

Within and between the pieces 5 and 5a constituting the outer pocket,the two sides 6 of the inner pocket are adapted to be arranged. Thesesides of the inner pocket comprise the frames 7 which are shownin detailin Fig. V6. These frames are stamped out bymeans of a suitable die fromsheet metal having sulicient iiexibility to allow the strips 8 which areprovided by the cut out portions of the sheet metal plate, to readilygive in the opening of the pocket without danger of bending uponthemselves or breaking. These metallic frames are covered by linen orother suitable material designated by the numeral 9, said materialentirely covering both sides of the frame and inclosing them in whatmight properly be designated a cloth case. The sides of the inner pocketare stitched at their vertical edges to the cloth pieces constitutingthe outer pocket and one of these sides is also stitched at its upperedge upon opposite sides of its center to the piece 5 of said outerpocket.

My improved closing means which I have devised for closing the sides ofthe inner pocket comprises a lock plate 10 which is formed from a singlepiece of metal bent centrally and longitudinally to provide the knucklesll, portions of the centrally bent part of the plate being cut out asshown at 11. The parallel portions of the centrally bent portion of theplate which provide the hinge knuckles are riveted together asdesignated at 12 to overcome any liability of said parallel knuckleportions separating. The recessed or cut away portions of the platebetween the hinge knuckles receive the knuckles 1.3 formed upon theupper edge of the pocket frame 8V of the outer side member ends of thiswire are bent to provide the cranks 15 which are disposed in the ends ofthe sleeves 14 and slightly inclined to bear at their ends upon theupper portion of said sleeves. The intermediate part of the spring wirebetween the cranks extends between the parallel portions of the knuckles11 formed on the locking plate, and above the rivets 12. The ends of thespring wire 16 when the locking plate 10 is in the position shown inFig. 2, frictionally engage the sleeves 15 and place said spring wireunder tension, said spring wire tending to move the locking plate uponeither side of the vertical axis of the hinge knuckles and engage theedge portion of the plate upon one side of the inner pocket as disclosedin Fig. 1. In this manner the sides of the inner pocket are heldtogether to prevent opening of the mouth of the pocket and accidentalloss of the articles contained therein.

In the event that one with criminal intent should attempt to open thepocket and extract the articles therefrom, in lifting the locking platefrom the position shown in Fig. l, its opposite edge will press againstthe body ofthe owner, and thus give warning that an attempt is beingmade to rifle the pocket.

When it is desired to close both the inner and outer pockets, the flap5b on the upper end of the front piece 5a is folded over the outer frame7 of the inner pocket. The locking plate 10 is then moved to theposition shown in Fig. 7, with its edge engaging over the front piece5a. Both pockets are thus securely closed.

From the `foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a very simpleand novel form of garment pocket which is so constructed that easyaccess may be had to either of the containing pockets which constitutethe same, while at the same time loss of the articles therein eitheraccidentally or by theft is eiectually prevented. The device may beconstructed at a comparatively low cost and is also highly durable andeiiicient in practical use.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction andarrangement of the4 various parts, it will be understood that the deviceis susceptible of considerable modification without departing from thees sentia] feature or sacrificing any of the advanta ges thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A garmentpocket comprising an outer pocket, an inner pocket arranged within theouter pocket and secured thereto at opposite edges, said inner pocketcomprising front andback pieces, the front of said outer pocket havingal Hap on it-s upper edge to be folded over the upper edge of the frontpiece of the inner pocket, and locking means arranged upon the upperedge of the garment pocket to lock either the inner pocket or both ofsaid pockets closed.

2. A garment pocket comprising an outer pocket adapted to be sewedV tothe garment, an inner pocket disposed within said outer pocket, saidinner pocket consisting of front and back pieces each having a flexiblemetal frame secured thereto, a flap on the upper edge of the front ofthe outer pocket adapted to be folded over the upper edge of the frontpiece of the inner pocket, and a locking element pivotally mounted uponthe upper edge of the frame of the back piece of the inner pocket andincluding a plate extending upon opposite sides of the pivotal point ofsaid element, said plate beingv adapted for engagement with the frontpiece of either the inner or outer pocket to lock one or both of saidpocketsk closed.

3. A garment pocket comprising an outer pocket secured to the garment,said outer pocket being provided at its mouth with a flap, an innerpocket disposed within the outer pocket, said inner pocket consisting oftwo flexible frames, fabric coverings incasing said frames, and apivotally mounted tensionally held locking plate arranged upon the u perend of one of the frames and engagealile over the other frame to lock`the mouth of the inner pocket closed, the iap on said outer pocket beingfoldable over the upper edge of said last mentioned frame, said lockingplate being engageable upon the upper edge portion of the outer pocketwhen. in locking position to hold the mouths ofl both pockets closed.

et. A garment pocket comprising two flexible frames, fabric coveringsincasing said lIO spaced knuckles formed thereon intermediate of itslongitudinal edges, knuckles formed upon one of the pocket frames, apintle eX- tending through said knuckles to pivotally connect the plateand frame, sleeves arranged upon the pocket frame, and a spring wirehaving its ends engaged in said sleeves, the intermediate portion ofsaid Wire being offset and extending between the intermediate portionsof the locking plate which form the hinge knuckles, said locking platebeing adapted for engagement with either one of the pocket frames toopen or close the mouth of the pocket.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my 15 signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. ANTHONY WILLIAM FERNANS. Witnesses:

J. E. ETCHELLS, J S. GUERIN.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

